Readings and musings

I haven't updated my Facebook "favorite books" section since I opened my account about 7 years ago. But after I read Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, I knew it was worth the update.

There was something so obvious, deep, and profound about the book that resonated with me. I love its emphasis on reason and production as well its focus on concrete details rather than vague, wishy-washiness. Part of me felt embarrassed while reading the book because I found myself to be guilty of some of the "bad" behaviors/thought processes/language described in the book, and now I have a much stronger foundation and framework within which I can consider what ways of thinking and doing are better.

I liked how she used the book -- a work of fiction -- to teach her lessons and philosophy through stories and characters. It made the lessons so much more vivid and memorable. I also enjoyed her writing simply as well-chosen words of English beautifully crafted together; I'm shocked I didn't encounter this book in any English class during my entire education. And to be written by an immigrant no less.

One thing I kept wondering about is why the "smart" characters (the "movers") never actively tried to change/fix the system but instead chose to abandon it for a fresh start. I'm curious what other readers think.

The book was also my first introduction to Ayn Rand's Objectivist philosophy, which is defined broadly as "the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute."

Below are some of my own notes/takeaways from the book.

Abstract philosopher in concrete form of fiction

Specificity

Real work, real goals

Some people fake, vague

Reason and absolute goals

Metaphor of train and progress

All realistic, smart people similar

Power of music

Such beautiful writing!

World collaborating against genius, ability, and truth

Not just stupidity that's the problem

Good ones are those who move the world

Power of talent, effort, mastery

Modern coats of arms are brands and billboards

Making money, happiness absolute top goals

Achievement of real goals

Problems of socialism

Code of competence only system of value

Only thing that matters is how well you work

Lack of popularity is due to working well

Aristotle theory of immovable mover

Joy of pleasure, not sin

Obsession with work bad too

Hypocrisy of modern times

Hypocrisy of socialism

People don't like it when something is good

All government corrupt

When we deal with applied science and tech, we deal with people, and people are more complex

Principles of truth drive few people

People sacrificed unjustly

Men not open to truth or reason

Must deceive them

Pleasure of body and achievement

Power of living mind and purpose

Libertarian, laissez-faire

By making profit and producing, you are doing good

Body and soul together, not at conflict

Longing for someone to admire and look up to

Important role of emotions for man and Objectivism

Reason, Purpose, Self esteem

Axiom of existence; A is A

Axiom of consciousness; Existence exists

Evil of non-specific language, "somehow"

Power of mind, only doing what self wants

Desire is good

Happiness as goal through skill and work through mind

"I am therefore I'll think"

Fight against mystics; Mystics of spirit; Mystics of muscle

No force or guns in morality

Not soul vs. body

Not human rights vs. property rights

Only role of government is protecting property rights, enforcing contracts in objective law, police, army

Oath: never live for sake of another man

Egoist

Aristotle

Happiness as moral purpose; Reason as absolute; Production as greatest act

This note on Atlas Shrugged has conveyed a lot about this book. I am happy to hear that you are going to list this book as one of your favorite book in the facebook. Since book emphasis on reason and production as well as on concrete details I felt like reading it.